If Romania hosts in the next few years France or any other T1 nation, could we expect what sort of crowd? Would it be possible to host it in Bucharest's main football stadium and have it pretty in the picture (more than half-full)?

I'm sure the game would be hosted on the National Arena (pictured here); attendance - probably full house

The project is to profile every player who has played for Poland at test level. I understand 300 of the 500 players have now a profile.

'After several years of collecting materials and images we began typing illustrated with photographs of sports biographies of all the representatives of Polish seniors who have played at least one official meeting.See biographies [click]

Ultimately subpage "Representatives" in the side menu of the page, will include representatives of all the biographies of Polish seniors, we ask that you be patient, to the development and introduction is in fact more than three hundred of the five hundred biographies, and it will take time.

The project has no equal in the world, so far none of the world federation has not taken up this challenge.

The basis for this biographies published in 2004. Encyclopedia Polish Rugby with Supplements 2004-2006 2007-2009 Maciej Powały-Niedźwiecki and Jacek Wierzbicki (therein biographies have been updated to the present), supplies the Polish Association of Rugby and information from representatives.

That really is an ambitious project. Especially as there might be some surprise "nominations".

Not 100% sure if really true or just a great story, but I was told, that the Eastern German national team once fielded their bus driver, because they were short one player

Makes things complicated if you want to create profiles of test players

How to grow rugby worldwide?Look at the world ranking in July. Teams ranked 1-10 have to play one team from 11-20 (they don't play in a regular competition) away the next year. 11-20 play 21-30 away and so on. Yes, it really is that simple.

RugbyLiebe wrote:That really is an ambitious project. Especially as there might be some surprise "nominations".

Not 100% sure if really true or just a great story, but I was told, that the Eastern German national team once fielded their bus driver, because they were short one player

Makes things complicated if you want to create profiles of test players

A real case, comrade!

1981 year.Hannover. FRG - USSR 10-7!

On the border of several players it was diskovered contraband black cavar and they canceled the visas.

As a result 14 people appeared on the field, including the team doctor Babchenko and the referee Kiyanov.

So it is not the only case, if the GDR (/East Germany)-story is also true. Hoorah for bus-drivers, team doctors and refs. The Eastern German bus driver apparently had never even seen a rugby game before and was told to just stay on the wing for the whole game.

Also I heard, that one of the players was always there with the national team, because he was extremely funny. Couldn't catch a ball because of his extremely crossed eyes. I've met him, and this part of the story is true. But I know for sure he can hold his beer

How to grow rugby worldwide?Look at the world ranking in July. Teams ranked 1-10 have to play one team from 11-20 (they don't play in a regular competition) away the next year. 11-20 play 21-30 away and so on. Yes, it really is that simple.

French rugby team before WWI playing in UK (not sure if v England, Ireland, Wales or Scotland) but a player missed the boat and they dragged a Frenchman off the street or something similar-may have b a French club player supporting the team. Will have to dig out my rugby books which are still in storage. I think it is the one that traces the history of 5 Nations rugby published around 1980's.

Speaking of East German national rugby team, I have a copy of German rugby annual dated around 1996 which has a full history of rugby in East Germany plus all the national team game results. I also have the Czechoslovakia 75th Anniv publication which has a full list of all Czech games plus team list for each game. Any other known publications which have such lists, especially Tier 2? Ahh, I remember I have one for Italy dated about 1995 which has each game and team list

It's not old stuff, it's very recent stuff, but I'm anyway proud of it: I bought from a sell-for-charity-website a ball of San Donà, one of the top ten italian clubs, used during the recent match against Rovigo. In the same website you may also buy the Canna's socks or the Italia women team ball... https://www.charitystars.com/tag/rugby

On january 2nd 1911, France defeated Scotland 16-15 in Stade Colombes, Paris. It was the first french victory against the scottish team.A french review published a sketch with Sandy (personification of Scotland) alerting John Bull (personification of England): "watch out the french!". Or something similar https://www.flickr.com/photos/rugby_pio ... 308616552/

Sandy the scotsman resembles a lot Willie from The Simpsons : )

Thanks to this sketch I've learned that existence of these national personificationsJohn Bull = Great Britain (or, in the case above, just England)Sandy = ScotlandPaddy = IrelandTaffy = Wales